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School of Public Policy and Leadership News

The School of Public Policy and Leadership employs an interdisciplinary approach to create knowledge and understanding to support effective policy and governance through collaborations of faculty, students, and the greater community. Our programs enable students to master the key principles of public management, research, and public policy so they can spark change, improvement, and resiliency in communities.

Current Public Policy and Leadership News

Ashley Pruitt graduates with a Doctorate of Public Policy at commencement.
Business and Community |

Alumna Ashley Pruitt credits Doctorate of Public Policy degree for teaching her how to reach legislators — and their constituents.

A view of Greenspun Hall at UNLV. In the background, the surrounding area of Las Vegas is visible, with mountains in the distance.
Campus News |

The Doctor of Public Policy prepares students to develop policy decisions for a growing state

Fall colors 2025
Campus News |

Some of the biggest news headlines featuring UNLV faculty and students.

A group of students play with legos on a shared large desk.
Campus News |

In this Urban Affairs class, students learn the community-building skills they'll need to overcome work and personal challenges in the future. 

June campus horizon shot
Campus News |

The top headlines featuring UNLV’s staff and students.

Spring flowers
Campus News |

The students and faculty of UNLV are springing into headlines around the country.

Public Policy and Leadership In The News

The Cool Down

An image showing dozens of private jets clustered at a Las Vegas airport was shared in the r/vegaslocals subreddit recently, quickly catching attention as users tried to make sense of the sudden surge in luxury air traffic. The post asked, "Why so many private jets? What's going on in the city?" Commenters agreed that a crowd of private jets could mean a major conference, high-profile sporting event, or entertainment event was drawing wealthy visitors into town.

WalletHub

’Tis the season for giving, and the latest World Giving Index shows that the United States is the sixth most generous country in the world. U.S. donors in 2024 still gave over $592 billion to charity, with 66% of the funds coming directly from individuals, according to Giving USA.

The Cool Down

Regulators have hit Elon Musk's The Boring Company with fines for almost 800 different environmental violations they said have taken place as part of the company's Las Vegas tunneling project, ProPublica reported.

Nevada Independent

Nevada state regulators have accused Elon Musk’s Boring Co. of violating environmental regulations nearly 800 times in the last two years as it digs a sprawling tunnel network beneath Las Vegas for its Tesla-powered “people mover.” The company’s alleged violations include starting to dig without approval, releasing untreated water onto city streets and spilling muck from its trucks, according to a new document obtained by City Cast Las Vegas and ProPublica.

ProPublica

Nevada state regulators have accused Elon Musk’s Boring Co. of violating environmental regulations nearly 800 times in the last two years as it digs a sprawling tunnel network beneath Las Vegas for its Tesla-powered “people mover.” The company’s alleged violations include starting to dig without approval, releasing untreated water onto city streets and spilling muck from its trucks, according to a new document obtained by City Cast Las Vegas and ProPublica.

Las Vegas Review Journal

From nonstop arrays of food at buffets to the gravity-defying Bellagio fountain show in the middle of the desert, the Las Vegas Strip has always been the country’s symbol of excess. It’s Michael Gulich’s job to make sure the reality tells a different story.

Public Policy and Leadership Experts

An expert in public policy and governance.
An expert on sustainability governance by cities, states, and corporations globally.
Lee Bernick is a professor with expertise in state and local public policy, survey research, public budgeting, and legislative behavior.
An expert in regional demographics, workforce development, and sustainable economic development.
An expert on local government and public policy. 
An expert on HR management and development.

Recent Public Policy and Leadership Accomplishments

Ashley Noel Pruitt (Medicine; Public Policy), associate director of technical assistance and policy for the Behavioral Health Education, Retention, and Expansion Network of Nevada (BeHERE NV), was recognized this month by the Greenspun College of Urban Affairs at UNLV. Pruitt is a doctorate candidate in the School of Public Policy and Leadership (…
Vicky Albert (Social Work), Jaewon Lim, and Daeyoung Kwon (both Public Policy and Leadership) recently published an article in the Sustainability Journal. In their article "Geographic Analysis of Four Social Safety Nets’ Responsiveness to the Pandemic Recession and Social Sustainability," they investigate…
The National Academy of Public Administration has announced 42 new inductions for the 2024 Class of Academy Fellows, including professor Edgar E. Ramirez de la Cruz (Public Policy and Leadership). The National Academy of Public Administration is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization, chartered by Congress in 1967 to provide expert advice to…
Jacob D. Skousen (Educational Psychology, Leadership, and Higher Education) published a paper titled, "Making Nevada Schools Safer: The State of Empirical Evidence." The policy paper reviews the measures taken to improve school safety. He reports that the evidence shows that overall safety in the nation’s elementary and secondary schools has…
A new study led by professor Ben Leffel (Public Policy and Leadership) has been selected for the inaugural Berkeley Haas Sustainable Business Research Prize as a finalist, which "recognizes research with the greatest potential to spur immediate change in the face of environmental crises". The study, by Leffel and University of Michigan coauthors…
Ph.D. student Aaron Colleta (Public Policy and Leadership) has been honored as a Founders' Fellow by the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA) this year. The Founders' Fellows program is designed to support and advance the next generation of public service leaders, providing significant professional development opportunities. Aaron…